[Jimmy Valentine]

"And the British, despotic rulers of the Emerald Isle, did nothing."

Worse than that. during the whole period of thefamine, Ireland was a net exporter of oats and other grains.

The British couldhave relieved the famine, but were indifferent to the plight of the Irish who many considered little better than talking monkeys.

This is why even today in Ireland, Queen Victoria is known as "The Famine Queen".

[BikerJoe]

Worse than that. during the whole period of thefamine, Ireland was a net exporter of oats and other grains.

According to a History Channel special on Monday, during the famine, Ireland produced 4 times the food needed by its citizens. The British exported it all and let them starve.

[Swiss]

Actually that is not true, I have seen figures that during the famine Ireland imported more grain than it exported.

As for so called conservatives who complain about farmers selling the crops for profit instead of just giving it to the poor. All that would of done would bankrupt the landowner and mean more unemployed needing to be fed.

If you mean the government should of bought all the grain and distribute it to the poor. To me that sounds like the government should be in health care because the poor needs it same argument.

People should remember that government disaster aid and FEMA and such was another century away. They did the best they could do.